How to update to 8.1

Question

How do I update my Surface RT to Windows RT 8.1?

Thanks,

Josh_F

Answer 1

Hello Josh.

If your Surface RT is currently running Windows RT, update to Windows RT 8.1. It's a free update, and unlike previous updates to Windows, you'll get this update from the Windows Store. Just tap or click the Store tile and tap or click the Windows RT 8.1 update. See Update to Windows 8.1 RT from Windows RT for more info on updating to Windows 8.1. If you're running Windows 8.1 Preview on your Surface RT, see Update Surface from Windows 8.1 Preview.

If you’ve opened the Store and you don’t see the update, check here for tips: Why can’t I find the update in the Store?

Best regards.

Answer 2

AS OF 10/22/2013 5:00:00 AM

The update to Windows RT 8.1 is once again available as a free download in the Windows Store for users with Windows RT devices. We immediately suspended availability of the update after reports that a very small number of Surface RT customers—around 1 out of every 1,000 Surface RT 8.1 installs—had experienced an issue that left the update incomplete and their devices unbootable. This was due to a rare situation where firmware updates had not completed at the time of the update to RT 8.1. In most cases, if a customer encountered this issue the result was simply an extra reboot. However, for a very small percentage, the boot configuration data was affected which prevented a successful boot. We worked to quickly resolve the issue and now encourage customers to update their Surface RT devices. Surface Pro and 8.1 customers were not impacted by this issue.

As previously announced, there is a recovery solution available for download here for Surface RT customers who experienced the installation issue. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. If an issue occurs with our software or devices, we take immediate steps to ensure a quality experience for every single customer—that’s been our driving priority in this case, despite the very limited number of customers impacted. We are grateful to the customers who shared their Surface RT devices, assisting our efforts to determine the root cause quickly.

AS OF 10/20/2013 8:00:00 PM

Based on our investigations of a situation customers have encountered updating to Windows RT 8.1, we can confirm that as of now this is a Windows update issue only affecting Surface RT customers. While only less than 1 out of every 1,000 ( or less than 0.1%) Surface RT customers who have installed Windows RT 8.1 have been impacted, improving their experience and ensuring their systems are fully operable as quickly as possible is our number one priority. We have made recovery media available for download here along with actionable guidance for affected customers. We continue to work towards making the Windows RT 8.1 update available in the Windows Store again and apologize for any inconvenience. Further updates will be provided as they become available.

AS OF 10/18/2013 11:50:00 PM

Windows RT 8.1. Microsoft is investigating a situation affecting a limited number of users updating their Windows RT devices to Windows RT 8.1.  As a result, we have temporarily removed the Windows RT 8.1 update from the Windows Store.  We are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience.  We will provide updates as they become available.  

Thank you again for posting.

Kind regards.

Answer 3

Ok kids, figured this out with the help of Google, not Bing (sorry Microsoft).

So to be a contributor not just a taker, here's what to do.

You must install kb 2871389 once you do that the first item in the store is the 8.1 upgrade.

I'm going to assume you know how to go in to windows update and pick just the single kb ( no point in installing a bunch of updates if you're just about to upgrade.

Answer 4

Greetings,

Sorry to hear about your experience. Ensure that you have all Windows Updates installed. To ensure that you have Windows Updates, please do the following:

1. Go to the Desktop app,
2. Swipe from the right
3. Touch Settings
4. Touch Control Panel
5. Set your View to Icons
6. Touch Windows Updates
7. Connect your Power Supply
8. Touch Check for Updates
9. Install all available updates
10. Restart when prompted
11. Check for updates after the restart until there are no more updates available
12. Once there are no updates available, go to the Start Screen
13. Open the Windows Store
14. There will be a tile for the Windows 8.1 upgrade

 If there is no tile, please let us know:

Answer 5

Greetings Jalen,

Sorry to hear about that. Your friend can make a USB Recovery drive with the files provided here and then boot from the USB and try a Refresh.

Let me know if that helps.

Answer 6

Thanks everyone, it has been fixed. I was not format the USB correctly. Thanks again.

Answer 7

Hi slartibartfirst,

The 8.1 upgrade creates an 8.1 recovery partition in your Surface RT. In case of a reset your device will go back to Windows RT 8.1, but if you use a recovery drive with Windows RT 8.0 after the reset your device will go back to Windows RT 8.0. This is the only way for RT owners to go back the Windows RT 8.0, even if it's not recommended because the OS and the Apps will follow the new 8.1and the procedure to go back to a previous version on an RT could be not so safe.

Regards,

Easywin.

Answer 8

You thought they would have learned from all the xps10 rt owners that bricked their devices upgrading to 8.1 preview..